Acharya Prashant explains that competition is inherently harmful and stems from insecurity rather than love or excellence. He argues that when one truly loves what they are doing, the thought of competition does not arise. Competition is accompanied by fear, and one cannot compete without being afraid. He emphasizes that excellence is a byproduct of loving an activity, whereas competition acts as an enemy to excellence because it signifies an absence of love. Addressing the pressure of society and relatives, he asserts that society is merely an object and that an intelligent person should not be afraid of others' opinions or actions, as they cannot take away one's intelligence or true self. He further discusses the dynamics of intelligence versus conditioning, noting that while parents and society may be deeply conditioned, an intelligent individual must act according to their own clarity rather than following harmful orders out of a sense of obligation. He clarifies that intelligence is not a thought or an opinion, but a direct action that remains consistent among intelligent beings. Responding to the idea of 'survival of the fittest,' he redefines fitness in the human context as wisdom and the ability to exercise intelligence. He concludes by stating that competition is a distracting thought that hinders performance, whereas attention is the actual key to success. Using the example of the JEE, he points out that thinking about competition during a task actually prevents one from solving problems effectively, while focused attention leads to achievement.
